The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-31
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
Annual Meeting Of the Prohibitionists
of the State at Plymouth Church.
Satisfactory Reports Of Years Work in Adj
vancing the Cause Of Christian Temper
ance--Speech Of Elk Governor st. John.

SATISFACTORY Reports OF Lear A0Fk III Au' /
vancing the Cause Of Christian Temper
ance---Speech of Ex-Governor st. John.
Much of the successful temperance work in
Indiana for several years has been formulated
in the meetings of the Indiana Christian Temper
ancs Union. The ninth annual session Of the
organization began at Plymouth Church yester-
day afternoon, with D. B. Ross president and
DR.. j. Ct. L. Myers, of Bloomingdale, Parke
county, as secretary. Seventy-fve gentlemen
and eight ladies were in the audience. The
president, in his opening address. said better
work had been accomplished the past year than
ever before. The members Of the organization
had learned to make haste slowly, and were do
ing, with the uttermost ease. everything they
undertook The feeling that prohibition must
come. he said, was growing every year, and 1t
was only question of time until public senti
ment would be strong that it would sweep in
temperance from the land.
The report of the secretary showed that dur
ing the past year ESQ 900 pages of literature had
been distributed over the State: and that twenty
three lecturers were employed at cost of
1913 %. The report OF the treasurer showed
that the total receipts for the year were 1874 49,
| and the total expenditures. $675. 20. All the
money except a few dollars, he stated, had been
expended for literature and lecturers. Commit
tees were appointed on resolutions, nominations
and the state of the organization, after which
| the reports from the auxiliary unions were re-
| ceived. With but few exceptions they were sat
| isfactory. Several new unions were established
during the year, and nearly all the old ones were
| greatly strengthened.
| Prof. r. T. Brown addressed the association
| briefly. Elk Governor St John entered the
meeting at the close of Mr. Browns talk, and
| was received with some applause.
The committee on the state of the order, COM
posed of r.. T. Brown, j. d. jacques and j. G.
L. Myers, submitted report detailing much
| that appears in the abstracts of the other Off
cial documents referred to above
| The committee resolutions. Robert Denny,
| William Edgerton and Mesdames L. d. Scott
and Nj. A. g. Fair, presented the following
which were adopted
Resolved That we have every reason to rejoice at
the Indiana State Christian Temperance Union since
its organization nine years ago and especially to feel
encouraged by the increased amount of work accom-
phshed during the past year shown by the report
| OF the secretary and that, therefore, ought 20
| thank God and take courage.
Resolved, That this organization ought to he nsn-
tanned and perpetuated and that it is the duty of
every member to earnestly endeavor increase its
power and efficiency by increasing its financial re-
sources and by aiding in procuring and distributing
prohibition literature.
Resolved, That the noble Christian work of rescu-
ing those perishng from strong drink which occupied
prominent place in scheme of work when this
association first organized is and not be
lost sight of but that would be consummate folly tc
devote all energies 80 this branch of work and
glect such precautionary necessary te
the continuance of the traffic that makes that
Resolved That Christian kindness and moral sua
sion. however commendabe, alone match fol-
the heartless greed of those interested in the liquor
busness:therefore, insist that this liquor traffic
always professedfy under control of law. shall be
| under ban of law-outlawed.
Resolved. That any political party which does no
recognize the need Of such legislation and propose t.
it to the suffering public is unworthy the
fdence or support of earnest temperance people.
The union then adjourned until evening
Ex-Governor St John spoke at Plymouth
ChuresAit- the evening to a small audience. III
took for the basis of his remarks the eighteenth
!, verse of the eighth chapter of Matthew. Tn
$ address was quite lengthy, and in its course b
9 said the Prohhtionists had been assailed abuse,
Q and reviled rs were the Abolitlonsts of old blu
Q he predicted for the former the same battles t
q fight and the same gradual triumphs, after which
the Nation would recognize and espouse tn
cause for which they were struggling. He hp
g been but three times in the minority-when h
e cast his first vote for Fremont, when he was de
J. feated in the Kansas gubernatorial in 1882
o and when defeated in the presidential campag
It Of 1884 He said that it was he who had cer
s tainly beaten Blaine, but that Blaine had ais
: beaten him. He that Blaine had fol
g given Cleveland, and his forgiveness of Blain
d was sincere and full Belva Lockwood had for
| given the speaker only few days after the cleo
. | ton.
= But the real question was not who was in tn
= minority, but who was right, and if the proh
bition cause was right God would be with i,
;, He considered Kansas the banner State of tn
q Union, and her six years of prohibition had on
:. added to her prosperity and peace. The valu
:. of her property had been tre5ed, and 600 90
- honest. sober and law-abidine citizens ha
: adopted her last year He severely denounce
the government for authorizing the sale Q
liquors, and asserted that it should be laugh
l. in the schools that the United States ha
80 cents interest in every gallon of liquo
:: distilled. He instanced how. during the Chicag
y riots of year ago. the collector Of internal rev
u enue had at the request of the proprietor
{. caused notice to be posted upon the doors @
certain distilleries, that they were ''in the cor
a troll of the government; all persons were forbid
:, den. by word act, to interfere with the opera
II tons" The saloons in the Capitol a
u Washington should be abolished. In tn
4. Cherokee nation, in the Indian Terri
i tory, he said the laws upon the sale or use G
u liquor were severe that death was often il
fcted as a punishment to the violator. FL
> thought that instead of the white men sendin
9 missionaries to convert the Indian, the India
/ should lend his efforts toward enlightening til
u white man.
= PERSONAL AND SOCIETY.